08 You Should Never Eat High-GI Carbs

“It’s all about context,” says Steve Grant. The glycaemic index (GI) ranks how carb-containing foods impact your blood sugar levels, but combining carbs with proteins, fats and fibre dampens the blood sugar response. A jacket potato,

for example, might score highly, but a spoonful of tuna mayo and some avocado will bring its GI right down. “In fact, in some circumstances, high-GI carbs can even be beneficial,” Grant points out, “particularly when you want to replenish your glycogen stores after training.”

People react differently, too. “Our gut microbiome has been shown to influence the glycaemic index of a food,” says Grant. “We all have unique responses.

The index is perhaps too crude a measurement.”